Barron's Senate run bolsters environmental message

Growing up in rural Vermont gave Bill Barron the opportunity to experience nature. When he came out west, he found employment at Alta. His favorite position was on ski patrol where he could be out in the weather, enjoying the beauty that the area has to offer.

Barron’s run for senate is an off-shoot of how he feels about the environment and what he wants for the future generation, including his eight-year-old daughter.

“I am committed to doing what I think is best for our environment and the health of our children,” says Barron. The next generation could be faced with many challenges depending on how this country deals with this issue.

In July 2010, Barron started a Citizens Climate Lobby group in Salt Lake City. Aligned with the national organization, he holds meetings in his living room the first Saturday of the month where members hear from speakers at a national level about climate issues and actions that are going on.

He has also started his own nonprofit called Renewable Energy Resources aimed at helping individuals become more energy efficient. As he learned more about the issues, he decided he needed to do something more significant.

“We have this problem, and we don’t have a lot of time to address it,” says Barron.

As part of his platform, he supports the Carbon Fee for Dividend plan that would charge a fee for all fossil fuels at their point of entry into the economy. Barron says that it would create jobs in green technology as well as in the building of the infrastructure to support green technologies. It would create cleaner air and improve health at the national level.His daughter had childhood asthma, “and that’s affected by our air quality.”

Barron drives a used pick-up powered by natural gas, has xeriscaped his yard and air dries his clothing rather than using a dryer.

“I do what I can to reduce my own personal carbon impact while pursuing the bigger picture,” says Barron.

Barron is running as an independent and says that listening to his constituency is important.

“I want to know what the people want and be in tune with how people feel about these issues,” says Barron.

This story was originally published at examiner.com as part of the America Inspires series. Links have been updated August 2016. Bill Barron is running for U.S. Senate again in 2016.

Check out the video below from a speech he gave in 2012 at SLC Green Drinks.